Colour can be a useful indicator of some of the general properties of a soil, as well

as some of the chemical processes that are occurring beneath the surface.

Soil types and Typical management

Soil colour
characteristics implications

Black These soils are often  waterlogging or

associated with high drainage problems
levels of organic  low pH
matter (peats).  high denitrification

Black Vertosols (cracking  workability and tillage

clay soils) problems

White/pale/bleached These soils are often  leaching of nutrients

referred to as  low plant available
bleached or 'washed water
out'. The iron and
manganese particles
have been leached
out due to high
amounts of rainfall or
drainage.

Red This colour indicates  high phosphorus

good drainage. Iron fixation
found within the soil  low plant available
is oxidised more water
readily due to the
higher oxygen
content. This causes
the soil to develop a
'rusty' colour. The
colour can be darker
due to organic
matter.

Yellow to yellow- These soils often  moderate phosphorus

brown have poorer fixation
drainage than red  low plant available
soils. The iron water
compounds in these  compaction
soils are in a
 Soil types and Typical management
Soil colour
characteristics implications

hydrated form and

therefore do not
produce the 'rusty'
colour.

Brown Soils associated with  low to moderate

moderate organic phosphorus fixation
matter level and iron  low to moderate plant
oxides. available water

Gleyed/grey/green These soils are  waterlogging or

associated with very drainage problems
poor drainage or  high denitrification risk
waterlogging. The  methane emission
lack of air in these hazard
soils provides
conditions for iron
and manganese to
form compounds that
give these soils their
colour.